A shot was fired this week when Lib Dem business secretary Vince Cable threatened more anti-union laws to make it harder to strike. Behind the threats lies a government rattled by resistance to the cuts.

Ministers are scared of the upcoming united strike on 30 June that could involve up to 700,000 workers and the possibility of an even bigger strike in the autumn.

Cable issued his blackmail at the GMB Congress in Brighton.

He told delegates that as long as “strike levels remain historically low” then there would be no need to “tighten” the laws.

But he added: “Should strikes impose serious damage to our economic and social fabric, the pressure on us to act would ratchet up.”

This was met with boos and shouts. Delegates showed they didn’t think Cable should have been invited to their Congress. A number of them walked out.

Cable hoped to divide the unions, appealing to what he called those “with cool heads”.

But when he mentioned the possibility of a general strike, delegates cheered.

They know the best way to deal with bullies like Cable is to stand up to them.